Growing up with Richard Linklater
If I’m honest, there were three things that led me to Austin Seminary. I don’t mean the (clear your throat and make your voice an octave lower) CALL, per say. Or even the academic verve of the place. Rather, I’m thinking about what made me fall in love with the quirky coffee shops with rusty lawn furniture. What drew me to the vibrant Mexican folk art, determined wildflowers, and laid-back milieu. I’m talking about all of the other things that let you know that a seminary is the right fit.
The first was my pastor, Rev. Tom Schmid, who handed me the Admissions Director’s name while telling me beautiful, nostalgic stories of the city.
Then, when we visited, we met with Dr. Jack Stotts. Jack asked my husband what he did, and when Brian explained that he worked at Sam’s, Jack slung his long, lanky legs over the side arm of his chair and told us a bit about the Walton family. For Jack, there was no apparent disconnect between talking with someone who worked at a cash office at Sam's and being friends with the owners. He could navigate both worlds, with equal ease and respect.